Don’t know the story behind it. Just wanted to pass on the news. http://www.hilohawaiitribune.com/daily/2003/Feb-16-Sun-2003/news/news2.html
Used to surf with him in Hermosa back in the mid 60’s. Saw him at the Oxbow Longboard Fiasco at Malibu back in 1995? He was in the legends part and as far as I could see he surfed better than anyone I saw through out the contest including Tudor or the gang of Hawaiians that stole the silly show. A moment of silence for Dru.
Always seemed like a great guy as opposed to Mike Purpus. It’s always a real shame when an athlete passes doesn’t seem fair, I know elderly people that smoke and drink and never excersize!!! Makes you wonder about the established truths about health, diet, pollutions, etc.
I surfed with Dru in the late 60’s early 70’s at 3rd pt Malibu.He was very cool and could really bank those Petrillo hulls on the rail.Ride on Dru.
surfed with Dru in the late 60’s early 70’s at 3rd pt Malibu.He was very cool and could really bank those Petrillo hulls on the rail.Ride on Dru. >Who shaped those Petrillo hulls? no embarrassing replies from irrational spousal units please
…Several people shaped for Petrillo,and WayneBrown,probably the most notiable shaper for Petrillo was Robert August.(I know,I’m asking for it now).Herb
Thanks for the facts. Heard all good (hull board) rumors about those two for years. Wayne Brown and Robert August never recieve credit as hull shapers. Could be theres a good ol boys “members only” hull club. “True history is not only what is written, but also that which is excluded”
From late 67 to early 70 just about everybody shaped hull type boards .
Dru was my South Bay generation’s finest and most influential surfer. He did not achieve that status because of his contest wins or magazine photographs. Dru incorporated the island style of the South Bay’s Hawaiian transplants (including David Nuuhiwa and Donald Takayama), and the aggressive tail turns of Dewey Weber, into a short board style that was radical yet smooth and flowing. He was our trendsetter in surfboard design. Working primarily with Rick Stoner, Phil Becker and Joe Lynch, he was instrumental in the design of the longboard Improviser, the transition Dru Barry Pintail, and the shorboard Rick Dru Harrison roundtail, incorporating the round tail of the Velzy pig into the modern shortboard. He was one of the first of my South Bay generation to travel, coming back with incredible stories of Maui, Peru and Australia. We will remember you! rory
I know the exact story behind the passing of dru harrison and it is a sad one at that. His wife wanted a divorce because he drank to much and was never home, which caused him to drink more. he went into the hospital on february 9th or 10th in 2003 (exact date forgotten it was 7 years ago) because his liver had failed from drinking so much with cirrhosis of the liver and Hepatitis C he passed away on february 14, 2003 around 9:30ish in the evening. He left behind 3 children 2 girls and a boy, and his wife. May his name never be forgotten.
R.I.P DADDY!
Howzit KHarrison, I never knew Dru had even died but I met him in 1965 when we lived next door to him on 14th st in Hermosa Bch. He was a good guy and great surfer and it's a shame he passed away from something that has taken a lot of our fellow surfers down thru the years.R.I.P. Drew